Information minister urges Sheikh Hasina to return and face trial

Collected Photo

Information and Broadcasting State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury has urged former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to return to Bangladesh and face trial, saying the government would even provide her with a return ticket if necessary.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a rally organised by Nandail Upazila and municipal BNP on Saturday, November 7, marking National Revolution and Solidarity Day in Nandail, Mymensingh.

Addressing the rally, the state minister said those who had fled the country after killing people should return instead of issuing threats on social media.

“You have killed people and fled. Now you are only making threats on social media. But the people of Bangladesh have understood those threats. You must return to the country. Come back now, not secretly. We will even provide you with a ticket if necessary,” he said.

He said those involved in depriving people of voting rights, corruption, looting, enforced disappearances and killings, as well as violence during the July uprising, would face trial on Bangladeshi soil.

He also warned that those who had fled would be brought back in handcuffs and placed before the court.

Yaser Khan Chowdhury said the country was moving forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He called on people to resist attempts to create unrest or obstruct the country’s development and urged them to hand over anyone suspected of suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies.

Highlighting development initiatives in Nandail, the minister said 186 roads had already been paved with brick soling, while allocations had been made for work on another 104 roads.

He also said Tk 11.5 crore had been secured for road repairs, claiming that no other upazila in Mymensingh had received such an allocation.

He added that 36 houses had been provided for homeless people, with plans to construct another 104 this year. Approval processes were also underway for the construction of the Jahangirpur and Char Betagair bridges and buildings for 23 educational institutions.

Regarding the upcoming union parishad elections, he said BNP-backed candidates would be nominated based on public opinion and surveys. He urged voters to support capable candidates committed to development and democracy.

The rally was held at the local Chandipasha School ground, drawing BNP leaders, activists and members of the public from different unions and wards of Nandail.